According to reports, the bulker captain that discharged around a million litres of wash water in the waters of Fos-sur-Mer, was fined over pollution.
The incident dates back to March last year, and in October 2024 the court declared that the master should have ensured that his order to stop the scrubbers had been acted on, according to the French reports.
Furthermore, the seafarer that tried in his absence was handed a EUR 50,000 fine by a Marseilles court with additional, smaller amounts to be paid to local organisations, the report added.
To remind, in June The Shipowners’ Club had issued guidance to inform that while standards set by the IMO provide a baseline for compliance for scrubbers discharge, local authorities in various regions enforce stricter guidelines or additional requirements.
The Shipowners’ Club had noted that local authorities in various regions have enforced stricter guidelines or additional requirements beyond those stipulated by the IMO. This has led to instances where ship owners have been fined heavily for non-compliance with local rules regarding scrubber usage, despite meeting IMO criteria.
